| |
The afternoon air had a chill to it, biting at my exposed skin. Agatha, Evie and I trudged down the streets that led back to mine and Agatha’s place. Agatha sauntered beside me, while Evie’s boots clicked loudly against the stone.
“Trouble has a scent, and I smell it on you three.”
I turned, finding Councilman Alden Voss materializing from the trees, his presence like a dark cloud descending upon us. He stood tall, his tailored suit impeccable despite the late hour, eyes sharp and beady under the elegant sweep of his dark hair streaked with silver.
Fantastic. The universe decided we hadn’t suffered enough for one day. It had to throw Mr. Perfect-Hair-Even-in-a-Hurricane at us too.
“It is time that you stay out of matters that don’t concern you, Ms. Holland.” The Councilman’s voice dripped with condescension. “The locket is not your concern.”
I crossed my arms and glared at the enemy. “Geeze, if it isn’t Mr. Sunshine himself. And here I thought we’d get home without any more drama.”
My sass-o-meter was cranked up to eleven. Probably not the smartest move when facing a powerful warlock, but hey, go big or go home, right?
“Your levity is misplaced,” Councilman Voss said coldly. “The path you’re on is fraught with peril. It would be...unfortunate, should you continue to interfere.”
“Is that a threat, Councilman?” Evie huffed, stepping forward with a hint of a threat in her voice.
You tell him, Evie. I’d hug her if I wasn’t worried about ruining her intimidating stance. But, hey, no pressure or anything. Just the fate of the magical world potentially hanging in the balance. You know, typical witchtastic stuff.
“Consider it sage advice.” His lips curled into an oily smirk.
“Ooh, Sage advice. Get it?” Agatha laughed dryly. “Because our Sage always needs guidance from the likes of you, Councilman.”
I could always count on Agatha to throw a verbal grenade into tense situations. It was like having a sarcastic, furry bodyguard.
I lifted my chin. “I appreciate your concern, but I can handle myself.”
The words came out strongly, but inside I felt like a wobbly Jenga tower. One wrong move, and I’d crumble. But if there was one thing I’d learned, it’s that sometimes you gotta bluff your way through life’s poker game.
Fake it ‘til you make it. I hoped my bravado wasn’t as transparent as it felt.
“Very well.” Councilman Voss gave a curt nod, his blue stare and hard and ominous. “But remember, some secrets are best left buried—with those who guard them.”
I rolled my eyes. I swear, these Council types must have a guidebook for ominous one-liners.
I clenched my fists, feeling the magic surge through me. “Buried secrets? That’s rich coming from you, Councilman. I bet you’ve got enough skeletons in your closet to start a dance troupe.”
Magic tingled in my fingertips, a reminder of the power I held. It was both thrilling and terrifying, like riding a roller coaster blindfolded.
Councilman Voss’ nostrils flared, a crack in his polished facade. “You’re treading on thin ice, Ms. Holland.”
“Good thing I’m a pro at ice skating,” I shot back, adrenaline making me bolder.
Where was this sass coming from? It was like my mouth had a mind of its own, spitting out quips faster than I could think them up. Part of me wanted to high-five myself, while another part was screaming to shut up before I dug my grave deeper.
Evie snorted, her hand on my shoulder. “Careful, Sage. His ego might melt that ice.”
Agatha stretched lazily, her tail swishing. “Yes, I’d say his ego’s big enough to sink the Titanic, but that’d be an insult to icebergs everywhere.”
“Such insolence,” Councilman Voss hissed, his composure slipping. “You have no idea what forces you’re meddling with.”
I scoffed. Please. I’ve dealt with worse things in the Institute’s cafeteria. But a nagging voice in the back of my head wondered if I was in over my head this time.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. Spare us the cryptic villain monologue. We’ve all seen this movie before.”
“Yeah,” Evie chimed in. “Next, you’ll be twirling your mustache and tying someone to train tracks.”
Councilman Voss’ face darkened. “You find this amusing? Your ignorance is truly staggering.”
More like willful defiance. But with each passing moment, I felt the gravity of the situation sinking in. This wasn’t just another Council squabble. Something bigger was brewing, and I was stirring the pot.
I stepped back. “Nah. What’s staggering is how you manage to fit that massive ego through doorways.”
The Councilman’s hands began to glow with an ominous orange fire. “Perhaps a demonstration of the stakes is in order.”
Oh, crap. This was escalating faster than a magical duel at the Academy. My heart pounded, but I forced my face to remain neutral. No way was I giving him the satisfaction of seeing me sweat.
Evie tensed beside me. “Whoa there, Sparky. Let’s not do anything hasty.”
I raised an eyebrow at Councilman Voss. “Resorting to violence already? And here I thought we were having such a lovely chat.”
Councilman Voss snarled. “Your flippancy will be your downfall.”
Evie crossed her arms. “And your condescension will be yours. We’re not backing down.”
“Yeah,” Agatha added. “So why don’t you take your fancy suit and inflated sense of self-importance elsewhere?”
Councilman Voss’s lip curled. “You’re making a grave mistake, children.”
I shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time. But at least my mistakes don’t involve bad hair dye and megalomania.”
My heart thumped wildly, a mix of adrenaline and defiance coursing through me. Part of me knew I should probably shut up, but the words tumbled out anyway. Voss’s condescension always brought out my snarkiest side.
The Councilman’s face flushed an impressive shade of crimson. “You insolent little bitch—”
“Now, now,” Agatha interrupted. “No need for name-calling. Though if we’re going there, I’ve got a few choice ones for you, Councilman.”
Councilman Voss took a deep breath, visibly trying to regain his composure. “This petty banter changes nothing. The locket is beyond your comprehension.”
I snorted. “Right. Because only the almighty Voss can possibly understand its immense power. Give me a break.”
I wanted to believe I could handle it, but doubt gnawed at the edges of my confidence. What if Voss was right?
Councilman Voss sneered. “Your mockery only proves my point. You’re children playing with forces beyond your control.”
Evie stepped forward, her voice steely. “And you’re an adult throwing a temper tantrum because we won’t play by your rules.”
Councilman Voss’ hands clenched at his sides. “You will regret this defiance. You foolish children have no idea what’s coming. The Archmage will—” He cut himself off abruptly, but the damage was done.
We all froze, the cheeky atmosphere evaporating in an instant.
“Archmage Zephyria?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. “As in, the same The Archmage who vanished after the Great Magical Schism?”
My mind reeled, struggling to process this info. The Archmage was supposed to be a myth, a boogeyman to scare young witches. If she were really alive and real and involved in this mess, we were in way, way over our heads.
Councilman Voss’ face had gone pale. “I’ve said nothing.”
Agatha’s fur stood on end. “Oh, you’ve said plenty, Councilman. Seems like the cat’s out of the bag...and this cat wants answers.”
“Spill it, Voss,” Evie demanded, all traces of humor gone from her voice. “What’s Archmage, the High Witch’s sister, got to do with any of this?”
The Councilman’s jaw clenched. “This conversation is over.”
I stepped forward, my heart pounding. “Like hell it is. You can’t drop a bomb like that and just walk away.”
Panic clawed at my throat. We needed answers, and Voss was our only lead. I couldn’t let him slip away, not when we were so close to uncovering the truth.
“Watch me.” Councilman Voss huffed, raising his hands.
A gust of wind whipped around us, and before we could react, the Councilman vanished in a swirl of leaves and magic.
“Well, shit,” I muttered, staring at the spot where he’d been.
Frustration and fear battled for dominance in my chest. We’d pushed too hard, and now Voss was in the wind with all his secrets. I felt like we’d just lost our only chance at understanding what we were up against.
Evie turned to me, her face grim. “Sage, what do we do now?”
I took a deep breath. “We find out everything we can about Archmage and her connection to the locket. And we do it fast.”
“Before Voss and his cronies can stop us.” Evie squeezed my shoulder. “Hey, we’ve got this. Team Badass Witches, remember?”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Yeah, Team Badass Witches. With one token warlock—Brad.”
Evie cleared her throat. “We should probably get moving. Who knows how long before Voss sends reinforcements?”
“Right.” I nodded, squaring my shoulders. “Let’s bounce before things get even messier.”
Agatha sighed. “Well, he was about as subtle as a unicorn at a horse race. I’d have to be an idiot not to pick up on that thinly veiled threat.”
Unfortunately for him, subtlety and I were only nodding acquaintances.
The locket, the secrets, the veiled threats—it was like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle in the dark while wearing oven mitts.
Agatha strolled ahead on the sidewalk. “Well, that was fun. Nothing like a cryptic warning from a power-hungry warlock to really spice up an evening stroll.”
I snorted and started walking again. “Yeah, because our lives weren’t exciting enough already. We should send him a thank you note for livening things up.”
“Ooh, can I dictate it?” Evie clapped her hands and kept pace beside me. “Dear Councilman Voss, thanks for the ominous warning. We were worried we might have a peaceful afternoon for once. Kisses, your favorite troublemakers.”
I cracked a smile. Leave it to Agatha and Evie to find humor in the face of danger. It was probably why we got along so well. That and Agatha’s inexplicable ability to always know where I’d hidden the good snacks.
Evie sighed, her earlier bravado fading into weariness. “We should get moving. I don’t fancy another run-in with any more Council members or their lackeys.”
I nodded. “I’ve had my fill of cryptic warnings for one day. Let’s go home and figure out our next move.”
The tension in my shoulders eased a bit at the thought of retreating to familiar territory. Home meant safety, a place where we could regroup and strategize without looking over our shoulders every two seconds. Plus, I was dying for a cup of chamomile tea and maybe some of those cookies Evie pretended not to like but always managed to sneak when she thought I wasn’t looking.
Evie frowned, tucking a lock of her jet-black hair behind her ear. “His threats barely masked his own fear. What do you think he’s so desperate to hide?”
“Well, we already know he’s involved with the supernatural uprising, and possibly he’s connected to that locket,” I replied.
“Careful, young witch,” Agatha warned, her yellow eyes gleaming. “You’re playing with fire, and not just because Councilman Voss loves his little pyrotechnics.”
I shrugged. “Then let’s not get burned. He doesn’t scare me...well, maybe a little. We need to find out what they’re planning. If the Echoing Locket is involved, we could be facing something big—something that could change everything for the magical community.”
“Or end it,” Evie said gravely. “The stakes are sky-high, Sage.”
A small voice in the back of my head whispered that maybe we should be more scared. After all, we were up against powerful forces with unknown motives, but fear wouldn’t solve anything. Action would.
“I know. We’ve got each other’s backs, remember?”
“Of course, yeah.” Evie smiled, though worry shadowed her features.
I wished I could erase that worry from her face. Evie had always been the cautious one, the voice of reason to balance out my impulsiveness.
“Let’s just hope our backs are fireproof,” Agatha said, already moving ahead. “Come on, witches. We’ve got work to do.”
I thrust a fist in the air and made a joke. “Watch out, magical world. The troublemakers are on the case, and we aren’t about to let a little thing like mortal peril stop us.”
This was bigger than anything we’d faced before, but it was also a chance to prove ourselves, to make a difference. And if we happened to uncover some juicy magical secrets along the way? Well, that was just a bonus.
We reached my home just as the afternoon sunlight beamed down on us, splashing the sky with yellows and oranges. My house, a cozy cottage with an overgrown garden, felt like a vacay after the day’s chaos. After everything that had happened, I craved the comfort of my own space like a warm hug.
“Welcome to the witches’ den,” I announced, pushing open the door. “Let’s crack this code.”
I took the note from my pocket and set the grimoire it came in on the coffee table. The cryptic note was spread out on the surface, its symbols seemingly mocking us with their secrets. Agatha hopped onto the table and hissed. Evie turned on the bright overhead lights, and I opened the curtains to let the sunshine into the room.
The symbols on the paper seemed to dance under the light, taunting me with their hidden meaning. A mix of excitement and dread churned in my gut. Whatever this message held, it was big. Like, change-our-lives-forever big.
“All right, let’s put my family’s translation spell to the test,” I said, reaching for my late grandmother’s grimoire. The ancient leather-bound book was stiff as I flipped through the pages, finding the incantation passed down through generations.
Gram’s presence seemed to linger in every word, guiding me. I took a deep breath, steadying myself for whatever we were about to uncover.
“Here it is,” I said, feeling the spark of magic tingling at my fingertips. “Linguae antiquitatis, revelare veritatem.”
The room thrummed with energy. The symbols on the paper began to shimmer and twist, rearranging themselves into words I could understand. “Holy crap.” I blinked, my eyes widening. “It says...‘Archmage lives.’”
My heart skipped a beat. Archmage? The boogeyman of the magical world was real and alive? That was next-level bonkers.
“Like, literally?” Evie peered over my shoulder.
“Looks like it. And if she’s alive...” I swallowed hard, unsure how to process the bombshell we’d just uncovered.
A chill ran through me as the implications hit. If Archmage was out there, everything we thought we knew about our world could be a lie. Talk about an existential crisis.
“Then all our worst nightmares are having a party,” Agatha finished flatly.
Evie grimaced. “Just when you thought things couldn’t get more warped.”
“Okay, I think it’s time to scry.” I stood up, moving to set up the crystal ball that had been passed down my family line for who knew how long. The orb was etched with delicate patterns, each swirl and line holding the weight of my ancestors’ gaze.
This wasn’t just any scrying session, we were potentially peeking into the darkest corners of our world. But someone had to do it, right? Might as well be the girl with a knack for stumbling into trouble.
“Be careful, Sage. Scrying can attract unwanted attention,” Agatha warned.
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the swarm of butterflies in my stomach. Agatha’s warning echoed my own fears, but I couldn’t let that stop me. We needed answers, and I was determined to find them.
“Relax. We’re just going to take a little peek,” I reassured her, though my heart thumped hard.
Nervously, I focused on the crystal ball, letting my magic flow freely. The mist within churned then cleared, revealing an image of Archmage Zephyria. She stood in a dark room adorned with occult symbols, speaking to a shadowy figure.
My breath caught in my throat. Archmage was alive and right in front of us. Part of me wanted to look away, to pretend I hadn’t seen her, but I forced myself to keep watching, knowing that ignorance wouldn’t protect us.
“Be extra cautious.” Archmage’s voice came through, cold and calculated. “The Echoing Locket is key to our uprising. We must not falter now.”
“Who’s she talking to?” Evie whispered.
“Can’t see their face. But whoever they are, they’re part of the supernatural uprising movement,” I replied.
A coldness ran through me. I realized the enormity of what we were witnessing. This wasn’t just some small-time magical mischief, this was a full-blown conspiracy that could change everything.
“Probably another Council member,” Agatha said, her tone dripping with disdain. “Birds of a feather plot tyranny together.”
“Shh, I’m trying to listen,” I said.
“Ensure the preparations are complete now that I have the locket back from my sister,” Archmage continued. “And remember, discretion is paramount. We cannot afford another setback.”
“Setback? I wonder what happened?” Evie murmured.
“Could be thanks to us,” I said with a smirk.
A spark of pride flickered in my chest. Maybe we weren’t just bumbling around in the dark after all. Maybe we were actually making a difference, even if we didn’t realize it.
“Or someone else is working against them,” Agatha said.
Brad? Was he working alone on this?
“Either way, we know what we’re up against now,” I said, pulling away from the crystal ball. “Archmage is alive, and she’s planning something big. Really big...with the locket.”
“Then we’re all screwed,” Evie said, setting her jaw.
“You can say that again,” Agatha said. “The game is afoot. And we’ll need every ounce of magic and wit to stay one step ahead.”
I felt a fire kindled in my chest. A burning desire to uncover the truth and protect the only world I’d ever loved.
We’d gone looking for answers and found a whole new set of questions instead. But at least now we had a direction, a purpose.